Art is used to express ideas, ideologies, messages and emotions. Different art forms send messages to the audience they cater. Paintings and photographs dazzle their audience by the colors that they have. Songs and dances amuse the audience by the moves and voices of dancers and singers. More than dazzling and amusing audiences, these art forms are the messages of their creators to them. Another art form, stenciling, also sends messages to their audience according to their category.

Stenciling is an art that caters to all audiences. It is an art that provides people with the power of choice. Stenciling takes form in different kinds. Wall stencils, stencil graffiti, street stencils, aerosol stencils and nano stencils. These kinds all have their principles and their uses.

Aerosol stencils are applied in industrial, commercial and artistic sectors. It is also used in residential and recreational places, military government and infrastructure management. Aerosol stencil templates can be produced from any material that has form. These materials include plain paper, cardboard, plastic sheets metal and wood.

Stencils are also used in official organizations and government use. These organizations and offices use stencils for easier recognition. Stencils for these purposes are personalized for every organization.

Stencil graffiti has risen from the fact that stencil art uses spray paint. Spray paints are materials that are readily available and are used for vandalism. Stencil graffiti is used by certain politicians and activists to express their ideas. Politicians use graffiti to promote their ideologies and to promote their political ambitions. Activists use graffiti to oppose the government or other entities. Stencil graffiti is the most aggressive type of stenciling.

In contrast with stencil graffiti is home stenciling. Home stenciling is mainly for decoration purposes and to provide aesthetics to houses. These stencils are important in the Do-It-Yourself industry. These stencils are applied by using paint or roller brush. Home stenciling provides homeowners with their choice of the design and color. They also have the power to create their own stencil. To avoid too much spending, a family can create their own stencil design and apply this design to their house. Doing stencils is also a good bonding activity.

Stencils also take the form of miniature shadow masks where materials can be deposited. Stencils are also used in screen-printing. Screen printing utilizes a mesh screen that is tightly woven. The screen is coated in slim layers of mixture to copy the original image.

Stencils are also used in airbrushing. The stencil used for stencil is called a frisket. The frisket is pushed directly on the artwork. This can be utilized to contain and control overspray. It is also used to create complex and sharp objects. However, this should be used only once.

Stenciling is a very ancient art of outlining patterns. The earliest forms of stencil can be seen in caves and hand imprints. It is used everyday when people go shopping for their children. Leaves, woods and tree barks were the first materials that were used in stenciling. Japan and China helped in promoting stenciling and in inventing equipment and methods to further advance the art. European countries also helped in promoting stenciling.

The above mentioned kinds of stenciling were result of the inventions by the early people. Stencil artists are forever in debt to these early stencil artists.